Chandigarh, Nov 6: Chandigarh is set to step up enforcement of helmet laws as 47 new AI-enabled cameras are being installed across key junctions to catch two-wheeler riders flouting safety rules. The system will employ automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and video analytics to generate evidence-backed e-challans, which will be sent directly to vehicle owners.
Until now, Chandigarh’s AI-driven Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) monitored 40 locations, focusing on red-light violations, speeding, zebra crossing breaches, and stop-line violations. With the new rollout, riding without a helmet will also be flagged, extending enforcement across more junctions.
Officials said the upgraded system allows 24×7 automated challaning, reducing reliance on manual naka checks and standardizing enforcement without human bias. Equipped with high-resolution cameras, violation detection technology, and ANPR, the ITMS has already contributed to stricter traffic enforcement and deterrence against reckless driving.
“Helmet compliance continues to be a major concern,” said Sumer Pratap, SSP Traffic. “We are expanding AI surveillance to 47 additional junctions because a large share of serious road injuries in Chandigarh involve two-wheeler riders.”
Traffic data shows the rise in automated challans over recent years. From 1.81 lakh issued in 2020, the number soared to nearly 10 lakh in 2024. In the same year, 84,802 challans were issued specifically for riding without helmets, with 52,544 to women and 32,258 to men. Between January and July 2023, 34,076 such challans were issued, compared with 25,220 in 2022.
Harman Sidhu, a road safety expert from Arrive Safe NGO, welcomed the move. “This is a step in the right direction as the majority of road crash victims in Chandigarh are two-wheeler riders, and head injuries remain the leading cause of fatalities. Technology can strengthen compliance, provided awareness and strict follow-through go hand-in-hand,” he said.
Traffic officials noted that while signal and speed violations were effectively monitored, helmet compliance lagged on internal roads, roundabouts, and during non-peak hours. The expanded AI coverage aims to enforce helmet rules uniformly across the city and reduce head injuries in crashes.
